Dorothy FarrarVitamins
Vitamins are necessary substances that the organism needs to survive. Vitamins can hardly or only to a very limited extent be produced by the organism. Therefore, like other vital components of food ( amino acids or fat ), they can only be supplied from the outside, preferably through healthy nutrition .
What are vitamins?
Vitamins are divided into two groups, which can be divided into water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins.
Water-soluble vitamins
Water-soluble vitamins include vitamin B, as well as vitamin B6 , vitamin B12 , and vitamin C. Water-soluble vitamins are particularly found in many plants and in some animal tissues. A part, however, is destroyed during the processing and preparation of the food and the cooker.
Since these vitamins are water-soluble, they are excreted relatively quickly in urine and sweat . They have to be constantly ingested through the diet , as the body can only store small amounts of these vitamins.
Fettlösliche Vitamine
Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamin A , vitamin D , vitamin E and vitamin K. The fat-soluble vitamins are difficult to find in nature. In addition, they are difficult to excrete due to their fat solubility. If the daily intake is significantly above the recommended average, a toxic amount can even accumulate in the body.
Deficiency symptoms of fat-soluble vitamins, on the other hand, develop slowly over months, in contrast to water-soluble vitamins. The total amount a human needs on a daily basis is less than an eighth of a teaspoon.
Why does the body need vitamins?
Vitamins have a special meaning for humans and certain modes of action. Vitamins take part in energy production as a catalyst and thus accelerate important chemical reactions in the body.
Vitamins are important in the breakdown or conversion of carbohydrates and proteins as well as various minerals and ultimately make a decisive contribution to energy production. Vitamins help in the formation of hormones and the red blood cells, also produce the genetic material and also regulate the nervous system.
Vitamins strengthen the immune system in particular and are indispensable for building cells, teeth and bones. The individual vitamins fulfill certain tasks and therefore differ in terms of their different effects.
Consequences of vitamin deficiency
A prolonged undersupply of vitamins, also known as hypovitaminosis, can lead to deficiency diseases.
Inadequate intake of vitamins can result in metabolic disorders and typical illnesses such as headaches , sleep disorders , nausea or facial pallor. These clinical pictures usually disappear completely after a sufficient intake of vitamins.
A vitamin deficiency can be caused by an unhealthy diet that is low in vitamins. At the same time, a malfunction of the organism to absorb vitamins, stress , pregnancy or breastfeeding, diabetes or malfunctions of the liver and kidneys can be the cause of vitamin deficiency.
Vitamins in food
With a balanced, varied and healthy diet, the mineral balance and the vitamin supply are covered.
A healthy adult covers their daily need for necessary nutrients and vitamins if they eat around 300 grams of grain products, 150 grams of fruit and around 300 grams of vegetables, 0.5 liters of dairy products and around 100 grams of meat, poultry or fish every day. Of course, this recommended daily recommendation can also be variably distributed over the week.
If you don’t have the time for a healthy and balanced diet, then the market has a number of inexpensive and highly concentrated substitutes or dietary supplements ready.
Vitamin supplements are freely available as tablets, powder or capsules without a prescription from large and reputable online shops. Internet mail-order pharmacies now also offer these products from various manufacturers.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.